Inspired Youth was founded as a project in 2010 with the sole purpose of engaging local businesses with local young people. In 2013, Inspired Youth was incorporated as a social enterprise, and continues to grow into a supporting network of local business owners and managers working together to mentor and provide support to young people. The continuous development of Inspired Youth has been entirely funded by the organisations which are involved within it; local employers and other organisations committed to developing the young people of our region and providing opportunity where they can.
The project is predominantly run by a core team at Inspired Youth, supported by hundreds of volunteers including local employers, training providers and teachers. Activities are run across Norfolk and Suffolk involving thousands of students from junior school through to graduate level. The activities are supported by local businesses ranging from micro and start up businesses through to major national companies with a local presence. Since the project was founded in 2010 it has worked with over 10,000 young people across the region.
Inspired Youth is well placed to partner with organisations looking to work on educational activities. Through its work, it has built up a network of interested teachers, career advisers, providers and employers looking to work together on career based activities. Inspired Youth is always looking for activities that will increase the amount of opportunities teachers and career advisers can offer the young people in East Anglia, giving them real choice in planning their future career and organising themselves in life.
Inspired Youth is a multi-award-winning initiative which has gained recognition both regionally and nationally. First recognised by the BITC (Business In the Community) in 2012, the project has been award Best Regional Initiative for the East of England, and has received the National Big Tick from the BITC for a number of consecutive years. In addition to this, Inspired Youth has also received national recognition from the hospitality industry and has been finalists for six years running at the national Springboard awards in London, winning the Best Regional Initiative in 2013 and Young Person Award in 2016. Inspired Youth has also been finalists for two years running at the EDP Business Awards for its work in community impact within Norfolk, winning the EDP Business Award Skills for Tomorrow in 2016.
Inspired Youth Projects ltd is a social enterprise. All surpluses from our projects are reinvested into the develop of new initiatives to support the engagement of local employers with local young people.
Enterprise covers our in schools projects such as IGNITE! and COGS. These projects help inspire students during school time through engaging projects and working with local employers. These projects are available across Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4 and are a great introduction for employers looking to work with local schools.
Futures covers our dedicated sector events promoting careers across a broad range of industries. Each sector event is attended by a broad range of employers and providers promoting careers, and opportunities in those specific industries. Each event is a unique opportunity for young people to have a conversation with representatives from the industry, and a great way to connect with future careers.
The unique aspect of Inspired Youth is how it has inspired hundreds of employers to come together to support a social issue. Through innovative use of social media, engaging activities, and a focus on mutual benefits, it has been possible to mobilize hundreds of local businesses to support the effort required.
Inspired Youth aims to inspire the creativity in young people from an early age by opening their eyes to the variety of skills needed to run a business. Through these activities it tries to create an entrepreneurial spirit in young people, that whilst they may not go on to start their own business, does give them a chance to build confidence, and desire to succeed that will carry on through their time in education.
A key societal impact of Inspired Youth is the raising of aspirations of young people, specifically those in rural areas or areas of economic development. Broadening their horizons of career opportunities and exciting jobs will hopefully give them a sense of direction, and in doing so raise their aspirations for the future. It will show that success can mean many things to many people, and that the journey to get there can be varied and exciting.
A real societal impact of Inspired Youth’s work is raising awareness among employers that engaging with young people will benefit them in terms of future employment plans, to fuel growth and create succession. It helps them see that by working with young people, they can solve the problems associated with recruiting young people – alongside other benefits of getting involved in their local communities.
Inspired Youth is well placed to work in partnership to many organisations involved in the youth employment agenda. Through its activities and employer relationships it will always have the potential to help influence opportunities within local employers and through working in partnerships with other organisations.
The real goal for “Destination” has to be the creation of training and employment opportunities that the young person has a genuine interest or passion for. Whilst it may not be the final “Destination”, a relevant “Destination” will help shape the path of that young individual, and accelerate them along the journey to reach their full potential.
